How to Apply to Mathematics at the University of Maryland, College Park: Not a Limited Enrollment Program, Choose It as Your Preferred Major and Meet a Math Advisor After Enrolling, with Admission Routes and Prerequisites for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

At the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD), undergraduate mathematics is a Bachelor of Science offered by the Department of Mathematics. The department pages carry College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences (CMNS) branding and award links, but the pages read for this guide do not state the college name or any college-level admission requirements. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on UMD’s website, for U.S. domestic students, international students (including those from China) and transfer students. Computer Science is a Limited Enrollment Program and is not covered here; this site has a separate article on it.

1. Tracks and how you get into the major

• Four tracks: the department’s course requirements page lists Traditional, Secondary Education, Statistics and Applied Math. The Secondary Education track is for students seeking certification to teach mathematics at the secondary level; students planning the Five-Year Integrated Master’s with Certification must complete the Traditional track. The Statistics track is for students preparing for statistics graduate work or occupations that need a strong statistics background.
• Not a Limited Enrollment Program: Admissions’ LEP list is Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Engineering, Immersive Media Design, Neuroscience and Psychology. Mathematics is not on it. Admissions says applicants who did not select an LEP are admitted directly to the major on their application.
• Preferred major on the application: the UMD application asks for a preferred major, which Admissions says does not affect whether you are admissible to the university.
• Declaring math: the department FAQ says that to declare math as your major “all you need to do” is see a math advisor, who will review your transcript and recommend a plan; no GPA threshold or cap on places is stated. The exact timing for current students who change into math is not published; write to math-ugadvisor@umd.edu.
• Double majors are common, but the department gives two figures: the course requirements page says over a third of math majors are double majors, while the FAQ says about half.

2. Prerequisites and the math curriculum

• High school courses: Admissions says that, as prescribed by the Board of Regents, applicants should complete at least 4 years of math by graduation, including Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II; those who finish Algebra II before their final year must take a course using non-trivial algebra, such as Trigonometry, Precalculus, Calculus, Statistics or College Algebra. The most competitive applicants exceed the minimums, earn a strong A-/B+ or better average and take several honors, AP or IB courses. No separate high school prerequisite for the math major is published.
• Math Placement Exam: all incoming freshmen and transfer students must take it, with no exceptions. It is online with three timed parts: Arithmetic (10 questions, 25 minutes), Algebra (20 questions, 50 minutes) and Geometry & Precalculus (13 questions, 35 minutes), with the retake limit described two ways on the page (two attempts per part per session; only one exam per session). It grants eligibility, not credit. Your placement is the highest from the exam, coursework, transfer credit, AP/IB and SAT math scores. The summer session typically opens in late March and runs through the end of the fall schedule adjustment period.
• AP credit: the department FAQ says a 4 or higher on Calculus AB earns credit for MATH140, and a 4 or higher on Calculus BC earns credit for MATH140 and MATH141. The pages read do not state IB equivalencies; see the Transfer Credit Center.
• Introductory sequence: math majors complete MATH140, 141, 240, 241 and 246 (calculus, linear algebra, differential equations) or the honors sequence MATH340-341, as quickly as possible.
• Honors sequence entry: MATH340-341 covers the same material as 240-241-246 with greater rigor. The prerequisites are MATH140-141 or a 4 or 5 on AP Calculus BC, plus department permission. The FAQ says it is reserved for the most advanced and motivated incoming students who have studied some multivariable calculus in high school; permission is first-come, first-served by email to math-ugadvisor@umd.edu.
• Main requirements (course requirements page, students starting fall 2012 or later; C- or better in each course and a 2.000 average in major courses): beyond the introductory sequence, MATH310 (unless exempted), eight 400-level or higher MATH, AMSC and STAT courses (seven in the Secondary Education track), one programming or engineering course from a list (such as CMSC106, 131 or 132), and, for the Traditional, Statistics and Applied Math tracks, a supporting three-course sequence in another field. The page carries no update date; use your degree audit for the current requirements.
• MATH410: the planning page calls it the “watershed course” for most math majors and advises passing it by the end of junior year. For graduate school in mathematics, it recommends MATH403, 405, 410, 411 and 463.
• Credit by Exam: for MATH120, 121, 140, 141, 240, 241 and 246, only for degree-seeking UMD students, for those who passed a similar course elsewhere with C- or better but cannot transfer the credit; a 1, 2 or 3 on AP disqualifies. The fee is USD 30, and the next exam is 25 January 2027.

3. Rounds, deadlines and materials (fall 2027 entry)

• Freshman Early Action (non-binding): 1 November (the table marks it as the prior year’s date, so 1 November 2026), with decisions by 1 February. Admissions strongly encourages it for priority consideration, merit scholarships and invitations to special programs.
• Freshman Regular: 20 January, with decisions by 1 April and enrollment confirmation by 1 May. Applications after the regular deadline are considered on a rolling, space-available basis.
• Platform: Common App or ApplyWeb for freshmen (Admissions says the choice does not affect review); ApplyWeb only for transfers.
• Materials: online application with essay and activities list or resume, USD 80 non-refundable fee (waivers available), two recommendations (one school counselor, one teacher; Admissions does not require a math teacher), official high school transcripts, and college transcripts if any.
• Test-optional: Admissions says UMD is test-optional through the spring and fall 2027 application cycles. Submit AP, IB and A/AS-level scores only after an offer, to receive credit.
• Math competitions: the 23 review factors include “recognition of special achievements” and “academic endeavors outside of the classroom” but do not name math competitions, and the pages read do not say how competition results are treated.

4. U.S. domestic students

• Tuition: for fall 2026 and spring 2027, UMD lists full-time undergraduate tuition plus mandatory fees of USD 6,417.50 per semester for Maryland residents and USD 22,043 for non-residents (including USD 910 mandatory fees). Rates for 2027-28 are not published.
• Estimated cost: Admissions’ estimate is still for 2025-26: tuition and fees USD 12,008 (in-state) or 41,974 (out-of-state); housing and food 16,436; books 1,250; transportation 1,514; personal 1,200; total USD 32,408 in-state or 62,374 out-of-state.
• Differential tuition: the extra USD 1,687.50 per semester applies to full-time juniors and seniors in Business, Engineering and Computer Science; mathematics is not in that list.
• Freshman merit scholarships: U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens whose complete application arrives by 1 November are reviewed automatically. The Banneker/Key Scholarship can cover up to full tuition, fees, housing, food and a book allowance, with Honors College admission; the President’s Scholarship is USD 2,000–20,000 a year for in-state and out-of-state applicants; the Dean’s Scholarship is USD 1,500 for freshman year or USD 4,500 a year for freshman and sophomore years, for in-state applicants only. Spring admits are not considered.
• In-state preference: “residency status” is one of the review factors, but how it is used is not published, and the pages read have no guaranteed admission for Maryland residents.

5. International students (including China)

• Who: non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent residents. Besides freshman or transfer requirements, the committee considers the national education system, types of institutions attended, English proficiency and third-party evaluations of non-U.S. university-level credentials.
• English: scores must be under two years old and sent by the testing agency (UMD code 5814). TOEFL 5 on the 1–6 scale or 95 on the 0–120 scale (MyBest not accepted), IELTS 7, Duolingo 120. UMD also lists Maryland English Institute score bands (TOEFL 4.5 (94) or lower, IELTS 6.5 or lower, Duolingo 115 or lower) and says some admitted applicants must complete MEI coursework first. Possible waivers include four years at a U.S. high school without ESL, a U.S. regionally accredited degree, 55+ semester credits from a U.S. institution including English Composition 1 and 2, or English as a first language plus citizenship or a completed high school or university degree in a listed country or territory.
• Transcripts: results for each year equivalent to U.S. grades 9–12, in the native language with a certified English translation, plus official results of national secondary examinations where appropriate.
• After admission: visa and financial documents are not needed for a complete application; they are required only if admitted, with help from International Student & Scholar Services.
• Scholarships: the freshman scholarship page says U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens are considered; the transfer scholarship page says only U.S. citizens and permanent residents qualify. Whether international students can receive UMD undergraduate scholarships is not otherwise stated; ask international-admissions@umd.edu.
• Fees: students needing a UMD-issued I-20 or DS-2019 pay USD 125 per semester, and Admissions notes international students may face higher living costs.

6. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the admissions pages read do not say whether Gaokao results are considered or how; this is not published. Ask international-admissions@umd.edu.
• Documents: a transcript in the U.S. grade 9–12 format with a certified English translation; results of national secondary examinations “where appropriate.” Whether Chinese provincial graduation exams are needed is not published.
• English: TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo as above. There is no China-specific page.
• Math preparation: everyone takes the placement exam; entering MATH140 requires precalculus preparation. If you have studied calculus already, see the AP/IB rules and the department’s Credit by Exam.

7. Honors, scholarships and outcomes

• Department awards: the undergraduate awards page lists the Abramowitz Award, Antman Undergraduate Award, Aziz Mathematics Scholarship, Higginbotham Award, Carol Karp Award, Krahn Scholarship (Mathematics Competition Scholarship), Outstanding Senior Award, Secondary Education – Mathematics Scholarship, Dan Sweet Memorial Fellowship, Kontner Endowed Scholarship, Dan Shanks Award, Strauss Scholarship, and Euclid and Strauss teaching assistantships. Amounts, eligibility and international student access were not checked item by item; see the department page.
• Honors: the lower-level program includes honors seminars, honors versions of the introductory courses and MATH340-341. The upper-level Departmental Honors Program (Honors or High Honors in Mathematics) expects MATH410 or MATH341 with a B or better and a 3.0 GPA, usually contact in sophomore or junior year; at least 12 honors credits, with a thesis or non-thesis option; and a 3.3 GPA in upper-division math. You need not major in math.
• Combined BS/MA: up to 9 credits can count toward both degrees. Usual requirements listed: GPA of 3.5, no more than 15 credits of upper-level math remaining, no more than 6 credits of GenEd remaining, one to three letters, an essay and an interview. The department adds that there is generally no funding for the fifth year and the program mainly suits students not planning a PhD.
• Outcomes: the department says the major prepares students for graduate school, secondary teaching, or government or business work. Its “Where did they go” page is self-reported by graduates and is not a department statistic, so no figures are quoted here.

8. Transfer students

• Eligibility: high school graduation or equivalent plus at least 12 semester hours (18 quarter hours) at a regionally accredited institution; AP/IB and placement tests do not count. Admissions expects an English composition course and a college-level math course.
• Deadlines: fall early action 1 March, regular 1 June; spring early action 1 August, regular 15 November. USD 80 fee, optional recommendation, high school transcript if under 30 semester hours, and SAT/ACT optional.
• Math-specific requirements: the Admissions and department pages read do not state a GPA threshold or a specific calculus or linear algebra sequence for transferring into math; not published.
• Credit: the department says transferred math courses come in as elective credit unless the department has evaluated them; to request an evaluation, email syllabi, your name and UID to math-transfer@umd.edu (allow two weeks). The Transfer Credit Center lists evaluated courses. Credentials from non-U.S. universities need a course-by-course evaluation from ECE or JS&A.
• Transfer scholarships: the Maryland Transfer Scholarship (in-state, USD 5,000 over two years) and the President’s Transfer Scholarship (out-of-state, USD 5,000 a year for up to two years) require applying by 1 March and are open only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

Checklist

U.S. domestic students:

• Apply Early Action by 1 November; list math as your preferred major
• Four years of high school math; SAT/ACT optional
• Take the Math Placement Exam; send AP scores after an offer

International students (including China):

• TOEFL 5 (new) or 95 (old), IELTS 7 or Duolingo 120, valid for two years; transcripts with certified English translation
• Two recommendations (counselor and teacher); USD 80 fee
• Prepare visa and financial documents after admission

Transfer students:

• Apply through ApplyWeb by 1 March (early action) or 1 June
• Email syllabi to math-transfer@umd.edu for evaluation

Sources: University of Maryland, College Park, Math: course requirements; Math: undergraduate advising FAQs; Math: planning your courses; Math honors; Math placement exam; Credit by exam; Combined BS/MA; Math undergraduate awards; Where did they go; Freshman applicants; International applicants; Application deadlines; English language proficiency; Transfer applicants; Limited Enrollment Programs; Review factors; Freshman merit scholarships; Transfer merit scholarships; Cost of attendance; Undergraduate tuition. The department requirements page carries no update date, and the Admissions deadline table marks some dates as being for the prior year. Check the University of Maryland for the latest details.